Philanthropy: Rally with Pride

By Kelley Corvin VT '12, Chief Advancement Officer

Merriam-Webster defines "pride" as a quality or state of being proud, such as pleasure that comes from some relationship, association, achievement, or possession that is seen as a source of honor or respect.

If there is one thing all Virginia Tech alumni have in common, it is the pride behind calling themselves a “Hokie.”  

As a Blacksburg native, I have always been proud to be a Hokie. But as a member of the commandant’s staff, I am filled with a whole new level of pride, wearing my Corps of Cadets gear proudly, honored that I get to associate with these young leaders of character. I work with true unseen heroes and have the privilege of getting to know and watch the next generation step into their roles.

My favorite thing to witness each semester: companies locked in competition, cheering on their teammates, and working together towards a goal.

Inspiring our next generation of philanthropists starts with Giving Day and educating cadets on the impact of their donation. Their incentive for understanding that philanthropic impact: Pie Day, a messy and fun way to recognize improved company performance during Giving Day. The top three companies with the biggest percentage increase in donors on Giving Day choose a staff member to pie in the face. This year, it was a tight race. As we closed in on the last 12 hours of Giving Day, Mike Company began collecting momentum, moving four places rapidly, Delta Company held strong, keeping their place within the top three the entire time (finishing 3rd), and Alpha surprised everyone by coming in second, knocking out Charlie who had been battling with Mike for the second and third place spots. The excitement in the atrium of the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building, headquarters for Giving Day, as companies battled for first was palpable. Cadets clamored to join the fun and watch the donor wall as we closed in on the final minutes. When the results were in, we were all shocked to see Mike in first place. Their forceful rally showcased another example of the power of company pride when focused on a mission.

I could share story after story about my favorite moments of the semester, but I want to leave you with this last one: a prime example of the caliber of cadets we have in the program that gives me faith in the next generation of leaders.  

I had the honor of being one of the judges for the 2026 Military Ball banners. This year’s theme was “Stars, Stripes, and Sacrifice.” Each company had two representatives from the Class of 2029 to present their banner, point out all the details, and share their vision. Voting was hard. The banners looked amazing, and every company created a thoughtful banner that visually connected back to the theme. But Delta Company gave me goosebumps as I listened to them describe their banner. They shared that the names in the flag’s stripes match those etched on the Pylons and the varied handwriting reflected that every member of the Class of 2029 took part memorializing those names within their art.

 That left me completely in awe, inspired by our newest leaders to be.

If you would like to discuss the impact you would like to have on the Corps of Cadets and our future leaders, please contact me, Kelley Corvin at (540-231-2806), kcorvin@vt.edu and we can find the opportunity that is right for you.    

SPECIAL NAMING OPPORTUNITIES

Spaces

A few naming opportunities remain available in the new Corps Leadership and Military Science Building, as well as other locations on Upper Quad. Secure your legacy naming for years to come.  

Endowments  

Endowments provide a dependable, perpetual source of funding for things such as cadet scholarships, travel funding, and programmatic support. Endowments create a funding source that supports the Corps in perpetuity.  

WAYS TO GIVE

Annual Gifts

Annual gifts of any amount can make an immediate impact. They can be in the form of a one-time gift or set up on a convenient, recurring basis.  

Non-Cash

There are many other ways to support the Corps with non-cash gifts. Some examples are will bequest intentions, beneficiary designations, and other ways. If you are interested in learning more about one of these ways to give, please contact us to learn more.

Employer Matching Gifts

Many Corps donors are employed by companies that encourage donations to higher education. Before making your gift, please check give.vt.edu to see if your company provides a matching contribution.

In Memory / In Honor

Scholarships, endowed positions, Corps facilities, or programs can be named in memory of a special individual. Gifts may also be made to honor a loved one or someone who inspires you. Contact our team to learn more!